The Threepenny Opera

by

Bertolt Brecht

Tiger Brown Character Analysis

The corrupt but genial sheriff of London and an old army buddy of Macheath’s. The two old friends, who were stationed together in India years ago, love each other dearly and have a symbiotic relationship in which they support and help one another—Macheath gives Brown a percentage of his gang’s takings from their various “jobs,” and, in exchange, Brown warns Macheath when a police raid is coming so that he has the chance to prepare, hide, or make things look right for the authorities. Brown cares about Macheath and, in spite of the different paths their lives have taken, regards him nearly as a brother—at the same time, Brecht shows how in spite of their close relationship, at the end of the day Brown sees Macheath as just another thug and debtor. When Macheath is captured and sent to the gallows, Brown tries to settle up accounts with the man and secure the outstanding briberies he’s owed before Macheath is put to death. Brecht uses the close but fundamentally incompatible relationship between the two men—one on the side of the law, one a criminal, both desperate simply to survive in their chosen worlds—to demonstrate how corruption and capitalism ravage not just societal structures but intimate relationships as well.

Tiger Brown Quotes in The Threepenny Opera

The The Threepenny Opera quotes below are all either spoken by Tiger Brown or refer to Tiger Brown. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Greed, Selfishness, and Corruption Theme Icon
).
Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes

MACHEATH: We were boyhood friends, and though the great tides of life have swept us far apart, although our professional interests are quite different — some might even say diametrically opposed — our friend­ship has survived it all. […] Seldom have I, the simple hold-up man […] undertaken the smallest job without giving my friend Brown a share of the proceeds (a considerable share, Brown) as a token and a proof of my unswerving loyalty to him. And seldom has the all-powerful Sheriff […] organized a raid without previously giving a little tip-off to me, the friend of his youth. […] It’s all a matter of give and take.

Related Characters: Macheath (speaker), Tiger Brown
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2, Scene 3 Quotes

BROWN: I hope my men don’t catch him! Dear God, I hope he’s beyond Highgate Moor thinking of his old friend Jacky! But he’s thoughtless, like all men. If they should bring him in now, and he were to look at me with those faithful friendly eyes, I couldn’t stand it. Thank God, there’s a moon: once he’s out in the country, he’ll find his way all right.

Related Characters: Tiger Brown (speaker), Macheath
Related Symbols: The Moon
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, Scene 1 Quotes

PEACHUM: The law is simply and solely made for the exploitation of those who do not understand it or of those who, for naked need, cannot obey it. And who­ ever would pick up the crumbs of this exploitation must strictly obey the law.

Related Characters: Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum (speaker), Tiger Brown
Page Number: 74
Explanation and Analysis:

PEACHUM: Go make yourself a plan
And be a shining light.
Then make yourself a second plan
For neither will come right.

For the situation
Men aren’t bad enough or vile.
Human aspiration
Only makes me smile.

Go running after luck
But don’t you run too fast:
We all are running after luck
And luck is running last.

For the real conditions
Men are more demanding than is meet.
Their ideal ambitions
Are one great big cheat.

Related Characters: Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum (speaker), Tiger Brown
Page Number: 76
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, Scene 3 Quotes

ALL: Combat injustice but in moderation:
Such things will freeze to death if left alone.
Remember: this whole vale of tribulation
Is black as pitch and cold as any stone.

Related Characters: Macheath (speaker), Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum (speaker), Polly Peachum (speaker), Mrs. Peachum (speaker), Tiger Brown (speaker), Ginny Jenny (speaker), Lucy Brown (speaker), Constable Smith (speaker), Money Matthew (speaker), Hook-finger Jacob (speaker)
Page Number: 96
Explanation and Analysis:
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Tiger Brown Quotes in The Threepenny Opera

The The Threepenny Opera quotes below are all either spoken by Tiger Brown or refer to Tiger Brown. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Greed, Selfishness, and Corruption Theme Icon
).
Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes

MACHEATH: We were boyhood friends, and though the great tides of life have swept us far apart, although our professional interests are quite different — some might even say diametrically opposed — our friend­ship has survived it all. […] Seldom have I, the simple hold-up man […] undertaken the smallest job without giving my friend Brown a share of the proceeds (a considerable share, Brown) as a token and a proof of my unswerving loyalty to him. And seldom has the all-powerful Sheriff […] organized a raid without previously giving a little tip-off to me, the friend of his youth. […] It’s all a matter of give and take.

Related Characters: Macheath (speaker), Tiger Brown
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2, Scene 3 Quotes

BROWN: I hope my men don’t catch him! Dear God, I hope he’s beyond Highgate Moor thinking of his old friend Jacky! But he’s thoughtless, like all men. If they should bring him in now, and he were to look at me with those faithful friendly eyes, I couldn’t stand it. Thank God, there’s a moon: once he’s out in the country, he’ll find his way all right.

Related Characters: Tiger Brown (speaker), Macheath
Related Symbols: The Moon
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, Scene 1 Quotes

PEACHUM: The law is simply and solely made for the exploitation of those who do not understand it or of those who, for naked need, cannot obey it. And who­ ever would pick up the crumbs of this exploitation must strictly obey the law.

Related Characters: Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum (speaker), Tiger Brown
Page Number: 74
Explanation and Analysis:

PEACHUM: Go make yourself a plan
And be a shining light.
Then make yourself a second plan
For neither will come right.

For the situation
Men aren’t bad enough or vile.
Human aspiration
Only makes me smile.

Go running after luck
But don’t you run too fast:
We all are running after luck
And luck is running last.

For the real conditions
Men are more demanding than is meet.
Their ideal ambitions
Are one great big cheat.

Related Characters: Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum (speaker), Tiger Brown
Page Number: 76
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, Scene 3 Quotes

ALL: Combat injustice but in moderation:
Such things will freeze to death if left alone.
Remember: this whole vale of tribulation
Is black as pitch and cold as any stone.

Related Characters: Macheath (speaker), Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum (speaker), Polly Peachum (speaker), Mrs. Peachum (speaker), Tiger Brown (speaker), Ginny Jenny (speaker), Lucy Brown (speaker), Constable Smith (speaker), Money Matthew (speaker), Hook-finger Jacob (speaker)
Page Number: 96
Explanation and Analysis: